Historical Perspective. In 1981, an obscure article in The New York Times reported the outbreak of a rare and very fatal form of cancer (Kaposi's sarcoma) among 41 gay men from New York and California.
This unknown disease was called "acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)" in the early 1980's becaused its still "unknown causative agent" suppresses the body's natural defenses, i.e., the immune system, against infection. It was a few years later before this unknown disease was linked to a very virulent "virus" that is responsible for suppressing the body's natural defenses; thus the term "human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)".

AIDS ravages the world. While the AIDS epidemic was first reported in the
UntitledUnited States
, very soon after, major cities and metropolitan areas in other Western countries were reporting similar ailments.
A few years later, diagnosis of similar AIDS-related ailments were being reported in Latin America (especially in some of the Caribbean countries, like Haiti) and Africa. AIDS took a longer time to get a foothold in Asia (initially in Thailand) but became significant by the early 1990's.

AIDS at 20. What began in 1981 as an unknown disease, that initially affected men who have sex with men (MSM), has gradually found its way to other sectors of the American society.
Read HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report (US) (pdf format), or visit the different sections in "AIDS in the
UntitledUnited States
" for a brief overview of the changing patterns of HIV infection and AIDS among different ethnic groups, gender, modes of transmission, etc. The "
UntitledTrends
" sections, included here, provide both graphic and text presentations of the changing demographics of the AIDS epidemic in the United States.

The AIDS epidemic has changed the socio-political fabric of the United States and other Western countries. The legacies of the socio-political struggles, between the opposing political forces in the fight to find cure for AIDS, has changed and continue to shape the political arena and moral struggle of the American people as a society. These socio-political struggles, in the light of the AIDS epdemic, have been instrumental in shaping and continue to evolve US policies on privacy, discrimination, allocation of resources, etc. [Visit the New York Times, AIDS at 20, for a historical news archive of the AIDS epidemic in the United States.]

UntitledCaution & Disclaimer: The primary sites cited in the "A to Z navigation links", as well as in the major sections (see left navigation links), were written or compiled by scientists and clinicians, but some of the hyperlinked sites (within the primary links) were not always written by scientists nor clinicians. Also, the contents of some of the hyperlinked sites were not always based from scientific research or clinical trials but more from personal experience of or interpretation of the literature by people with HIV/AIDS or caregivers and others with interest about the disease. Therefore, exercise caution when using any information provided. Be sure to discuss them with your primary health care provider.

Because of the nature of some forms of the transmission of HIV, the language used in some of the hyperlinked sites can be very explicit.
Untitled

.....

Untitled
First Written: 19990118
Latest Update: 20060328
Untitled

Untitled

.....

UntitledNotes and Disclaimer:

Our policy does not allow us to provide any specific health advice. Neither should the information gathered here be used as a substitute to the more thorough diagnosis by your physician. We do not have the resources to handle specific inquiries on any subject matter included in the databases.

Inclusion of any internet site link in the pages of the various sections of
Health Resources
does not constitute endorsement of the information, ideas or views of the cited site. Please visit the Why this page? section in the
Introduction
of to learn more about our policies on privacy, general disclaimer and other pertinent information. You agree to be bound by the aforementioned policies and disclaimer if you go beyond the entry page of this website and will not hold us responsible for the consequences of what you do with the information gathered herein.

If you are interested to help improve any of the sections or develop a new topic, to be included here, please contact us. Thanks for visiting with us.